“If you grew up white before the civil rights movement anywhere in the South, all grown-ups lied. They'd tell you stuff like, 'Don't drink out of the colored fountain, dear, it's dirty.' In the white part of town, the white fountain was always covered with chewing gum and the marks of grubby kids' paws, and the colored fountain was always clean.”

American newspaper columnist, author, and political commentator

Molly Ivins was an American newspaper columnist, author, and political commentator. She was known for sharp, humorous writing that used satire and wit to take on political figures and public policy. Her work combined insight with a comic edge, and she built a reputation for saying difficult things clearly and with style. Her commentary often focused on politics, where she used humor as a way to expose folly and press her point.